“Surely not.” He lifted her hand and kissed it. “Do not be so hard on yourself. Everyone falls.” He laughed. “As you noticed when you saw me sprawled across the floor a moment ago. It is normal to lose one’s balance occasionally.”
“I wish it were an occasional thing for me. But I honestly think something went wrong during my transformation. I used to be ungainly as a human, but now I’m not only uncoordinated, I’m also absentminded.”
“Certainly you are exaggerating. Come. Show me.” He indicated one of the state-of-the-art laboratories. “What are you working on?”
A vengeful goddess and now an awkward scientist. What is next?
She walked into the glass-enclosed area, and flicked on more lights. “I’m a specialist. I’ve been perfecting several formulas that can be added to fresh blood to give the consumer a unique experience.”
“A unique experience? What do you mean?”
She turned too fast and grasped for the handle of the refrigerator next to the counter. Her elbow knocked against several beakers, sending them tumbling to the floor, where they exploded into tiny shards.
“Oh, my,” she said, looking at him with a shocked expression, probably analyzing his reaction and expecting the worst. “See what I mean?”
“It was simply a mishap,” he said gently, kicking the broken fragments to the side.
She does appear to be accident-prone. I am sure she will relax once the initial nervousness wears off.
“You’re very kind. Lucky for me I’m smart and good at my job or they would have fired me decades ago. Not to be immodest, but I’m a genius and my bosses – which includes you, I guess – are counting on me to create a whole line of blood-enhancers, so they clean up my messes and tolerate my problems.” She looked at him and gave a shy smile. “You even sent me a letter of appreciation for all my work once.”
“Did I?” He noticed the way the light played off the golden highlights in her lovely thick hair. “Well, I am sure you deserved it.” Flirting, he slid a finger along her full lower lip.
“Oh – ” She nervously reached up to take his hand, but misjudged and instead pushed it away, hitting herself in the nose. “Ouch!”
Devereux took a step back, unwilling to remain in the line of fire. She reminded him of a beautiful meadow littered with hidden explosives. One never knew what would trigger a blast. But of course, he always enjoyed skirting the edges of danger.
Choosing to be more direct, and for safety’s sake, he lifted her into his arms, walked them over to a seating area, and deposited her onto a couch. “There. You are protected for the moment.”
Her chin trembled as she fought back tears. “I feel like such a fool. I finally get to meet my idol and I’m ruining everything.”
Her idol?
“You have not ruined anything.” He snuggled close and draped his arm along the back of the couch, his fingers stroking her shoulder. Such a vulnerable young woman. She brought out his protective instincts.
She nestled against him and sighed. “You smell so good.”
“Thank you.” He was glad she thought so; after his bout with Maeve, he wasn’t sure how spring-time fresh he was anymore. “Now, before I expire from curiosity, what are blood-enhancers, and why do we want you to create them?”
She shifted her body so she could look at him. “You know how vampires aren’t affected by most human drugs?” she said, punctuating her words with excited hand gestures. “Nothing works on us, not heroin, meth, not even any of the psych meds. Our brains are different, so the medications that help mortal symptoms don’t apply to ours.” She paused and studied his face.
“Yes.” He patted her arm to soothe the sudden anxiety he picked up from reading her thoughts.
She wants to impress me and has high hopes for the evening. Hmm. She is thinking about a bedroom in the back. But there is something else. Something that frightens her.
His gaze shifted to a partially open door at the far end of the space where a candle burned on a table next to a turned-down bed. He suspected she had never used the employee sleeping area for such a purpose before.
Her thoughts warred with each other. He knew she wanted to talk to him about her professional work because she was fanatically dedicated to it, but she was worried she wouldn’t have time to seduce him, as planned. She didn’t know how long the date could last. Seducing him seemed very important.
Well, he concluded, why not enjoy myself? How difficult would it be for him to make sure their time together was all she dreamed it could be? Just a simple kindness he could perform for a sweet woman. After all, as the boss, it was important for him to do everything he could to encourage good company relations.
“I am aware that this laboratory has been doing research on the differences between human and vampire brains. Are you saying you have made a breakthrough?”
Her face lit up. “Yes – as often happens in scientific exploration, discoveries are made by accident while looking at something else.”
“What did you discover?”
She stood and offered her hand. “We’ll have to go in the other room so I can show you. I promise to try not to destroy anything else tonight.”
Glad he was relatively indestructible, he took her hand and followed her into the sterile-looking laboratory again. They stood at a work counter filled with colorful vials and bottles, stark under the florescent lights. A floral aroma pulsing from an electronic dispenser barely covered the scent of old blood.
He reached out and lifted a bottle to read the label.
Lilly smacked his hand and retrieved it from his grip. “No touching!” she blurted, as if she were scolding a naughty pet.
He frowned at her, then looked down at his empty hand.
She pressed her palms against her mouth, her eyes wide. “Oh, Master Devereux – ” Her voice softened into the child-like tone again. “I am so very sorry. Coworkers are always borrowing samples of my work and I’ve had to become rather aggressive about keeping them away.” She stroked his arm and looked into his eyes. “Please accept my apology. Of course, you can touch anything you wish,” she said, suggestively.
“Apology accepted.” Very strange. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde come to mind. “So, the breakthrough?”
“Yes. I found a new class of drugs. It’s nothing earth-shattering, because vampires really don’t get sick or have need of medical attention. But when added to human blood, one formula causes vampires to feel pleasure, or to go on a ‘trip,’ as the mortals call it, or have some other desired effect.” She pointed to another of the mixtures. “There is a decided romantic and sexual element inherent in some of the tinctures, very similar to the human drugs ecstasy or LSD. ”
“Are the new drugs successful only with human blood, or does animal or vampire blood work as well?” He trailed his fingers across the colorful vials.
“Fresh human blood is best, and fresh animal blood also works. Vampire blood just gives a weaker version of the expected reaction, but it’s also effective.”
“That is very impressive.”
A satisfied expression flowed across her features. “I also found a combination that creates relaxation, which can be very helpful for newly turned vampires who can’t control their behaviors or emotions. And there’s one for extended sleep, for when a vampire who might be getting tired of his or her daily existence chooses to ‘go to ground’ for a century or so. These new drugs will give the user a positive outcome.”
“How far along in the testing procedure have you gotten? I do not recall receiving a report about your findings.”
She chewed a fingernail. “I’m in the middle of writing up an initial report for you. We’ve only done a small clinical trial so far. Next week we begin recruiting volunteers for a larger study.” Her eyes glowed and a tremor of excitement vibrated through her. “Next year at this time we’ll be able to fine-tune the formulas to help all vampires. At this point, one unexpected result has been that each vampire experiences the drug slightly differently, depending on
her or his age and power. We’ll soon be able to take all that into account and to create specific enhancements according to individual needs. It’s all so amazing!” She flung her arms out wide and sent a large microscope sailing through the air. It smashed into the far wall and stuck there.
The woman really is a disaster waiting to happen. Why am I still here?
“Oh, no! Look what I did. I’m so clumsy.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “Honest, I don’t usually cause this much damage in such a short time period.” She looked up at him, and bit her lower lip. “I think it’s because I’m nervous.”
He laughed. “I would say that is an understatement.”
Continuing to read her, he watched as she studied him to see if he was angry or making fun of her. When she sensed he wasn’t, she smiled. “Well, then, I won’t even bother to make promises I can’t keep. But since I seem to do a little better when I talk calmly about my work, maybe we should stay on that topic for a while. So, with that in mind, would you like to try one of the formulas? To see for yourself?” Her lips parted.
It didn’t take a mind-reader to know which one of the drugs she’d like him to take.
“You wish me to sample the one that has romantic and sexual elements? Are you certain you want to give permission for me to drink your blood? After all, we do not know what will happen. And you barely know me.”
Oh, yes. She knows exactly what she hopes will happen. Hmm – I never would have guessed she knew how to do that...
She stood straighter and gave him a clear blue gaze. “I know a lot about you – everything I could find out online and through vampire networks – and I would love to have sex with you.”
“Well, then, how can I refuse such a delightful invitation? What do we do?” He licked his lips in anticipation.
At least this part should be pleasant. Maybe I can see my way to forgive Elliott and Laurence after all. Of course, I have to rip their heads off first, just for my own satisfaction, but I will not make them crawl far to reclaim them. Maybe just down one staircase... or perhaps up on the roof.
She shifted her gaze to the door of the sleeping room and back. “Why don’t you go to the area I’ve prepared and I’ll bring a bottle of the formula. We’ll put a drop on your tongue and then you can take some blood from me. As I said, the effect won’t be as strong as if you had human blood, but it will give you a good idea. The enhancement should last for at least half an hour.” She pointed toward the door.
He gave a quick bow, strolled back to the room and pushed the door all the way open. Soft music floated from speakers in the walls, and pleasant aromas wafted from both the scented candles and fresh flowers placed in vases on every available surface. Luxurious white bedding covered the king-size bed.
Well, since she has gone to so much trouble, it is the least I can do...
A balcony overlooked downtown Chicago and the Lake Michigan shoreline. He slid the glass door open and stepped outside, appreciating the bracing air and the sounds of the city. He had forgotten what a marvelous view this building had.
Sensing her approach, he returned inside, removed his clothes, folded them on a table in the corner and stretched out on top of the covers.
Lilly entered the room carrying a small bottle with a light-pink label and an eye dropper. “Here’s the formula – ” She stopped dead when she saw him on the bed and dropped the sturdy bottle, which fell with a loud clunk onto the marble floor.
Devereux rolled his eyes as she bent to retrieve the bottle. He had to agree with her. She was quite uncoordinated. He looked down at himself and wondered if she could be trusted to handle anything... important.
“Whew! Lucky I stuffed the cork in tightly so none of the liquid spilled.”
He’d scooted up in the bed and leaned against the carved wooden headboard. He laced his hands behind his head. “Yes.” He grinned at her. “That is very lucky.”
Her gaze shifted from his face to his genitals and seemed to get stuck there.
“Lilly? Would you like to join me?”
His voice startled her out of her trance and she jerked her focus back to his face. Her eyes couldn’t get any wider. “Yes.” She handed him the bottle and eye dropper, and kicked off her shoes. She unbuttoned the lab coat and let it drop to the floor. Underneath she was naked.
He took a few seconds to track his gaze over her lovely body, noticing her rosy nipples and the golden curls between her legs.
Hmm. Clumsy, possibly a bit crazy, but very sexy.
He couldn’t resist asking. “Are you always naked under your lab coat? You seem a bit more conservative to me.”
“You’re right, I’m usually more reserved, but I wanted to be ready in case the opportunity for us to have sex presented itself. I’m a very pragmatic vampire.” She crawled up on the bed and took the bottle from his hand. “The formula tastes pretty awful, but you only have to take a drop right before sucking blood, so it shouldn’t be too unpleasant.” She knelt at his side, pushed her hair behind her shoulder to expose her neck then extracted the small cork. “Open your mouth and stick out your tongue,” she said, then laughed. “I’m sorry. That sounds more like a visit to a human doctor’s office than a romantic interlude. But, please – that’s the easiest way to get the formula on your tongue.”
Always willing to help further the cause of science, Devereux did as requested and she squeezed out a drop of the thick, dark liquid.
She set the concoction on the table. “Okay.” She leaned in, sweeping her hair out of the way again. “Bite me.”
The liquid did taste bad. He cringed as he bent toward her, opened his lips and pressed his fangs into the vein on her neck. But as the blood flowed into his mouth and washed away the foul flavor on his tongue, an unusual floaty sensation assailed him. His erection, which had been half-hearted, as if it wasn’t sure how much longer they were going to continue the date, now stood at full attention.
He moved his hand to her breast, found her nipple and squeezed gently. His body tingled and a wave of warmth flowed down from his head to his feet. The more blood he drank, the more vivid the sensations.
Lilly moaned and slid her hand down to grasp him. She began stroking his length and as she eased her finger over his tip, he grunted and withdrew his fangs. He licked the tasty residue from his lips and pressed them to hers in a passionate kiss, then pulled her down on top of him and ran his fingers along her body. Her skin felt hot to the touch, which was impossible for a vampire.
Distantly, he noted how much he was enjoying kissing her, how sensual it seemed, which was different for him because his emotions were never engaged during liaisons with women he wasn’t close to. It felt like he could lie there, touching and kissing her all night. He assumed that was one of the effects of the drug.
He got caught up in sliding his tongue under, over and around hers and had what felt like a mini-orgasm in his mouth. Amazing.
After an eternity, Lily broke the kiss and said, “I want you inside me. Please.”
Never one to disappoint a lady, he reversed their positions, nudged her legs apart with his and thrust himself into her.
They both groaned.
He had no idea if this was what a human drug trip felt like, but it was absolutely extraordinary.
I’ll definitely be stocking up on this product.
The soft music playing in the background came alive, the notes resonating in his bones, sounding so close it was as if the instruments were suspended in the air near his ears. Each place she touched him sent ripples of pleasure through his entire body.
He kissed her again and eased his tongue into her mouth, circling in an erotic dance with hers.
Simultaneously, they built toward climax, moaning and writhing until the tremors subsided, which took a delightfully long time, until at last, finally totally spent, he gave her a quick kiss, then rolled off. He lay on his back next to her, still under the influence of the strange mixture, concentrating on his bodily reactions. For the second time that
night, his heart pounded on its own. Usually he only made that happen if he was around humans. No doubt it was another unusual effect of the drug.
Then suddenly as if a switch had been thrown, the formula’s effect ended, and the euphoric feelings vanished abruptly, leaving him feeling oddly hollow. Cold. Almost bereft.
Intrigued, he examined his sad feelings. He’d never experienced anything like his current state, in the wake of the drug trip. It was like falling into an abyss or a black hole. He’d heard human depression described in such a way. Did the sexy little scientist know her discovery had adverse consequences?
After resting silently for a few more minutes, willing his heart rate to slow, he rolled on his side, facing her. He lifted a lock of golden hair that had fallen across her face and smiled. “Thank you. That was beautiful.”
She stroked his cheek with her finger. “It was for me, too.” She gave a contented sigh.
They gazed at each other. He sensed her desire to ask him about his drug reaction, and though he was sure she wouldn’t like all of his feedback, she needed to know. And, as the owner of the company, he wanted this negative outcome explored.
“Have you ever taken the formula yourself? Do you know about the after-effect? Have any of your subjects reported anything?”
“No!” She bolted upright, alarmed. “What after-effect? Nobody has reported anything and I haven’t taken it yet. What do you mean? What happened?”
He lifted a shoulder, still caught up in the heavy, vacuous – lost – feeling. He kept thinking he wanted to weep – something he hadn’t done in centuries. “I am not sure. During our encounter I felt blissful. My body thrilled with new sensations, everything was richer – deeper. The orgasm itself was extraordinary, as if it was happening in every cell simultaneously. I now understand why humans equate certain hallucinogenic explorations with spiritual experiences. I did have a sense of expanded consciousness, which is very appealing to me.”
She frowned down at him, obviously irritated, her previously warm tone now harsh, the friendly mask tossed aside. “Well, that sounds great. What after-effect are you talking about? You seem okay to me.”
Vampires! A Bundle of Bloodsuckers Page 9